It should come as no surprise that pizza is the #1 take-out food in America. While take-out offers maximum convenience, homemade pizza is usually a better value, boasting superior ingredients for better health benefits. My Mom was a natural when it came to making homemade pizza. I loved the smell of freshly baked pizzas that wafted through our home on Friday nights and the rich blend of cheesy flavors that accompanied every mouthful. It was a slice of perfection that brought

In the early days of our family, we would often escape the busyness of life by visiting a nearby lake. After exploring some of the hiking trails, we usually ended up by the waters edge, skipping stones. Our children watched with rapt attention as their Dad skipped stones across the water’s surface...6, 7, even 8 times before each one plopped dramatically into the lake. Trying to achieve the same results, our children searched for the perfect skipping stones as they worked at

This June will mark three years since our house fire. During the nine long months that we were displaced, I desperately yearned to be back in our home, even though I knew it would never be the same. Our family of five bounced between six hotels within the first four weeks, before finally landing in a rental home in a neighboring town. Despite our circumstances, I started gathering the items we’d need to create a home that felt warm and inviting.  One of the first projects I t

In a recent blog post, I shared what it means to have our home ‘guest ready’. What I did not share is the story behind this guest ready mindset.  It was an unseasonably warm day in the fall of 1982. The leaves were just starting to change into their vibrant hues, hinting of cooler days to come. My family was at my Grandparents house for Sunday dinner.  This was a tradition I looked forward to each week.  In fact, by Thursday or Friday, at the latest, I was already anticipa

When it comes to cleaning and maintaining our home, there's ready and then there's guest ready . Each Saturday morning, our young family worked to get our house, and even our yard, ready for the upcoming week. This allowed the rest of the days to hum along more smoothly, as we juggled the schedules of a busy family. However, if we were going to have guest in our home, whether for dinner or a long weekend, we would take our efforts to the next level, making everything guest re

I grew up in a time of great television. In fact, many of the shows from that era are considered “classics” today. Long before the deluge of cell phones and streaming services, the television was the one place family members gathered to relax at the end of the day.  In the world of television, there are episodes and there are mini series. An episode is a single broadcast with recurring characters that usually runs between 20-50 minutes. A mini series, on the other hand, is a

Today is the 1st day of April, which also marks the start of April Fool's Day. This lesser known event occurs annually on the first day of April and is set aside for pranks and practical jokes. While April Fool’s Day lasts a mere 24 hrs, many pranksters begin making preparations days, if not weeks, in advance. Afterall, pulling off the perfect prank requires perfect timing.  I’m not usually one to revel in the pranking of others; especially when they’re done out of malice. Ho

Many years ago, when I was just a young college student, I began teaching women in prison through a program sponsored by the Literacy Council. Teaching in prison was far different than any other teaching environment I’d experienced. Upon entering the prison, I had to wade through a lobby filled with family members waiting to see their loved ones. On the other side of the crowded lobby was a sturdy wooden desk, which resembled a barricade of sorts. After signing the log-in sh

It seems like only yesterday when my husband and I drove our to daughter to Pittsburgh for her freshman year of college. With the contents of 17 years of life taking up every inch of our mid-sized SUV, we made the 4 hour trek to campus. After the unloading and unpacking were complete, we did what we could to make her dorm room feel like a "home away from home". That was four years ago. Now , in a little over five weeks, she will be graduating from college. It almost doesn't

We’ve had a lot of rain lately in our corner of the world. While I’ve always loved a rainy day, they feel different somehow than they did when I was a child. Back then, rainy days were an event .  As with any event, one must consider their attire,  which should be versatile, while being sure to include some staple pieces. For me, the staple piece for any rain day was none other than - my rain boots. When I was a girl, rainy days went far beyond hearty soup and cozy blankets. 

During a rather entertaining conversation with one of our children yesterday, I was reminded of a die hard rule we've had in our home since the start of our family. The rule itself is fairly simple ~ Praise in public , correct in private . It's the application of this rule that's often easier said than done. As with any rule, consistency is the key. Admittedly, this can be a challenge when that consistency starts, first and foremost, with the parents themselves. Without c

When I was about 12 years old I received a German shadow box as a birthday gift. Measuring 24 inches high and 18 inches wide, this wooden frame of sorts consisted of multiple slots of varying sizes. Despite the rather simple design, this was one of my most valued possessions. Over the years, this shadow box became a treasure trove of trinkets marking everything from travel destinations to cherished friendships. There were even a few antique pieces added to the mix. Like a car

The children's book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie", by Laura Numeroff, was a fan favorite in our house for many years. Aside from the endearing illustrations, this beloved story conveys just how easy it is for one thing to unexpectedly lead to another, oftentimes bringing us right back where we started. This circular pattern isn't merely a charming plot twist in a children's book. It is a common characteristic for many of us, but especially for Moms, who have perfected the

Despite knowing the “fundamentals” such as colors, shapes, counting, the alphabet, writing his name, and reading chapter books on his own, kindergarten wasn’t exactly a smooth transition for my oldest son.   While the academic skills were easily mastered, he was somehow lacking in the "social skills" category. After starting school, my once happy boy was more like a soldier on a mission. Boarding the school bus each day was the start of his mission, which only ended when he d

The end of another successful Easter Scavenger Hunt As we usher in the month of March, our thoughts are turned towards spring and with it, the Easter season. Like so many families, holidays hold a special place in our home. However, there seems to be a different level of planning and preparation that goes into religious holidays, such as Easter and Christmas. Early on, my husband and I wanted to make sure our children understood the reasons we celebrate these holidays and w

We have been in our home more than 20 years. Yet, for a time period spanning six to eight years, our home address would come up as the location of The Genius Club . At the time, I had no idea what The Genius Club was or how it got attached to our home address. It wasn't long before I discovered the source of our updated status. Unsurprisingly, it came from our boys, who were maybe 10 and 11 years old. For months, they had been gathering the items needed to build a Tesla coil

Early on in our parenting career, my husband and I decided to make Valentine's Day more about the family and less about us, as a couple. That doesn't mean that we neglected our relationship. We just chose to celebrate our Valentine's Day the following week, once the crowds and the chaos died down a bit. We adopted a few traditions along the way to help make Valentine's Day a festive time for the whole family. I referenced one of these traditions in last weeks blog post ti

As the temperatures dipped below the freezing point when our children were young, we felt a feel a special kind of warmth inside our home as we kicked off our annual Valentine's Challenge . This challenge began with an empty Ball jar, which I placed in the center of our dining room table each February 1st. Next came the fun part, as each child selected their color from the bag of SweetTart candy hearts (other colored candies work just as well). Our sons usually went with the

With the Christmas decorations boxed up for another year, I am saying goodbye to the holidays, which brought festivities and loved ones to our home. While the house feels a little empty since our children have gone back to college, it's time for me to say hello to the New Year as the Christmas season fades into the background, along with our beloved Christmas music. While I often wish the holidays could last just a little longer, I realize that's like trying to hold back th

Christmas is a time of celebration and rejoicing. Yet, at times, the celebration and rejoicing of the holiday can take a backseat to the onslaught of wishlists and hosting obligations. From the time our children were very young, we established the tradition of the Christmas Chain for the twelve days leading up to Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve itself, we had a different set of traditions, which included serving Christmas dinner to the homeless at a local food bank. Serving t